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DHS Inspector General: CBP Has Little to Show for Wasteful Hiring Contract

Dec 10, 2018

Press Release

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) management alert report: CBP Needs to Address Serious Performance Issues on the Accenture Hiring Contract. In the report, the OIG says that CBP and Accenture are nowhere near where they need to be to meet hiring targets and millions have been already spent. With a goal of hiring 7,500 agents, the contract would cost $297 million.

“More than a year into a five-year contract with Accenture with a goal of hiring 7,500 agents and officers, CBP has hired only 33. I continue to have doubts about CBP leadership’s questionable decision-making about how to address its hiring struggles. CBP cannot simply farm out its hiring to a consulting firm to the tune of $300 million without addressing systemic problems at the agency. CBP faces high attrition rates across the component. Worse yet, the Trump Administration has made CBP a polarizing organization in its quest to demonize migrants seeking a better life.”

“Going forward, it is critical CBP complete a thorough assessment of which aspects of this contract are and are not effective. I also suggest that CBP consider whether some of the contract money not yet obligated could be used to go toward workforce incentives to promote retention of its current personnel.”